Dear friends:
Easter. It affords me many memories. It reminds me of Easter egg hunts, baskets with chocolate bunnies and those pure sugar yellow chicks. The chore of finding a new outfit to wear to church or finding something that looks to be new. The dawn of spring, trees and flowers blooming: all these bring back pleasant memories of my childhood.
When I was dating Anne her family had a big Easter egg hunt at her grandfather’s farm. My wife knew me well, even before we were married. She instructed me that I was not to try to gather all the eggs in the hunt. She said I know you want to win, but you don’t want to alienate my family. It is to be a friendly and joyful Easter egg hunt. I complied, but I did find a lot of eggs.
For us as believers Easter means so much more. It means resurrection, forgiveness of our sins, hope for the future, the freedom to pursue righteousness, and the joy of eternity with our Savior, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, along with our love ones and saints that have gone before us.
I know there are many who are reading this letter that the memories are not quite as joyful. Maybe it conjures up feelings of being left out, not finding many eggs, or more significant issues like dealing with the death of an unbeliever, the death of someone close to you or those who are battling debilitating illnesses. As Os Guiness says, “I don’t always know why, but I know why I trust God does know why”.
In his devotional book New Morning Mercies Paul David Tripp reminds us of the two things in life you simply don’t have to worry about anymore. God has acquired these for us by His love and grace. “There aren’t two things in all of life more important than these – that grace has purchased for you a place in God’s family and that, because you’re in His family, God rules over all things for your good. There is much for you to be concerned about, but not these two things. His love will never fail, and His rule on your behalf is eternal.” Thanks be to God.
We had a very good response to our James Ryle banquet and we’ve just finished our Sporting Clays fundraiser. We are following up these men to get them into studies, see men place their faith in Christ, and others further their commitment to our Lord. We saw needed funds come in for our ministry through our fundraising event, and we are in anticipating our first Women Business Leaders brunch April 4th, since our director Tommye Lambert has come on board.
I am grateful for Easter, and all the blessings that come along with it. I’m grateful for you my friends, my prayer warriors, and my fellow laborers in this ministry that God is called me to lead. Please continue to pray for us as we look for staff, particularly a City Director for Birmingham, and our new studies.
May The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope Romans 15:13. I trust you will experience in a new way God’s mercy, peace, and blessing this Easter season.
Anticipating God’s good will and pleasure,
Phil